Wiki » History » Version 11
laforge, 07/27/2023 08:21 PM
1 | 7 | laforge | h1. BBS-Revival |
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2 | 1 | laforge | |
3 | 3 | laforge | This project is about re-creating the experience of telephone/modem based BBSs and BBS networks such as FidoNet, Z-Netz and UUCP/UseNet. It is hence a retro-computing project, but the focus is not necessarily to run the exact same software on the exact same operating systems and hardware that was used back then. |
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5 | Rather, the focus is on recreating the experience, and showcasing as well as explaining the technologies. We are not afraid to mix it with modern technology. |
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7 | The project will |
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8 | 9 | laforge | * collect software and hardware used for circuit-switched telecommunication, including |
9 | ** Modems, ISDN-TAs, RAS servers, (this has meanwhile moved in the more general [[retronetworking:]] project |
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10 | ** BBS Software, Terminal Programs, etc. |
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11 | * build a physical setup of telephone network, modems, BBSs, points, ... that can be demonstrated at events such as vintage-computing festivals or CCC congresses (see [[Dialup_Network_In_A_Box]]) |
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12 | 1 | laforge | * document the items of our collection as well as the physical setup on-line so people can read up about and explore related technology |
13 | * as far as possible, run permanent installations of some of the technologies involved, either using modems over SIP/G.711 or telnet based access |
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15 | We want to cover analog modems and ISDN on the hardware side, as well as all major network technologies on the software side, such as FTN, ZConnect and UUCP |
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17 | 8 | laforge | h2. How to contact us |
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19 | 11 | laforge | h3. Forum |
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21 | We now have a "Retronetworking category in the osmocom forum":https://discourse.osmocom.org/c/retronetworking |
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23 | 8 | laforge | h3. Mailing List |
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25 | 11 | laforge | For those that prefer more retro ways of communication: We also have a public "mailing list":https://lists.osmocom.org/postorius/lists/bbs-revival.lists.osmocom.org/ for discussion among interested parties. |
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27 | Don't be surprised by the lack of traffic on the ML, almost all communication happens on the IRC channel |
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29 | h3. IRC Channel |
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31 | A lot of us are hanging out on the @#retronetworking@ IRC channel on libera.chat. If you don't know much about "IRC":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRC, feel free to use the provided "webchat":https://web.libera.chat/ interface |
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33 | 3 | laforge | h2. History |
34 | 5 | laforge | |
35 | 1 | laforge | This project started around the 34th annual CCC congress, where LaF0rge (osmocom.org project founder) gave a talk about BBSs and early internet access in the 1990ies, a recording of which can be found at https://media.ccc.de/v/34c3-9034-bbss_and_early_internet_access_in_the_1990ies |
36 | 5 | laforge | |
37 | Unfortunately not all too much had happened in the following 18 months or so, but at least a growing collection of related POTS + ISDN hardware had been put together. In October 2019 the first modem connections over the PBX were made, as well as a SynchroNET BBS installation put together. |
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39 | 8 | laforge | In December 2019, at the 36th annual CCC congress [[36C3]], the full retronetworking setup was in operation for four days. Visitors could step by in the retronetworking village, and use the provided Modems, ISDN-TA and/or vintage laptops in order to dial into both local and remote BBSs or create dial-up internet connections. |
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41 | 8 | laforge | The plan was to run the setup again at a variety of 2020 events, incluing Easterhegg and VCFB. However, the COVID-19 pandemic rendered all those plans obsolete. |
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43 | 8 | laforge | |
44 | h2. Present / Future |
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46 | In 2022, we have operated the event setup at [[VCFB_2022]]. We plan to exhibit it at many other retrocomputing events. |
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49 | 6 | laforge | h2. Sub-projects |
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51 | Some topics warrant a separate sub-project with its own wiki / issues / ...: |
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53 | |_.Name|_.Description| |
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54 | |[[fidonet:]]|Anything around the FIDO BBS network| |
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55 | |[[linmodem:]]|The open source softmodem created by Fabrice Bellard| |
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56 | 10 | rafael2k | |[[uucp-and-usenet:]]|Mail + News using UUCP| |
57 | 6 | laforge | |[[z-netz:]]|Store-and-forward BBS technology around Zerberus + ZConnect| |
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59 | 2 | laforge | h2. Index |
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61 | {{child_pages()}} |